When to Plant Jaboticaba in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Jaboticaba guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Nov to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Jaboticaba is a slow growing Brazilian tree. The purple black fruit grows straight out of the trunk and branches. It suits warm subtropical gardens and tolerates a pot.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Best harvests are October and November (Rob Pyne). Daleys lists February to April and October to December, and says it can fruit up to three times a year. Move seedlings to full sun after the first downpour of the wet season (Rob Pyne).
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Jaboticaba included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Jaboticaba in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil with moderate water (Daleys). Shallow roots that like regular watering in the dry season (Rob Pyne).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Rob Pyne).
- Keep away from
- Windy exposed spots, Overhead sprinklers with salty or chlorinated water
Tropical Growing Tips for Jaboticaba
Recommended Varieties
- Sabara (smaller, frost tolerant in Daleys listing)
- Grafted jaboticaba (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Seedlings are slow to fruit
- Birds
Pro Tips
- Plant after the first wet season rain
- Net the trunk
Pests and problems for Jaboticaba in Tropical
Harvesting Jaboticaba
When ready: Pick when the fruit is really round and shiny black (RFC Archives).
How to harvest: Pick by hand over three to four pickings as fruit ripens (RFC Archives). Fruit is ready about 30 days after flowering starts (Daleys).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Jaboticaba
When do you plant jaboticaba in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
When should I plant Jaboticaba in Cairns?
Best harvests are October and November (Rob Pyne). Daleys lists February to April and October to December, and says it can fruit up to three times a year. Move seedlings to full sun after the first downpour of the wet season (Rob Pyne).
How do I know when Jaboticaba are ready to harvest?
Pick when the fruit is really round and shiny black (RFC Archives).
What are the best Jaboticaba varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Sabara (smaller, frost tolerant in Daleys listing), Grafted jaboticaba (Daleys).
Are jaboticaba salt tolerant?
No. Jaboticaba are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.